Electrical comb



J. M. BROOKS.

ELECTRICAL COMB.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-25.1919. 1,327,804.

Patented Jan. 13, 1920.

dam/"M AES union.

JAMES M. BROOKS, 0F WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

ELECTRICAL COMB.

Application filed August 25, 1919. Serial No. 319,530.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES M. BROOKS, a itizen of the United States, residing at l/Vashington, in the District of Columbia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Electrical Combs, of which the following is a specification. v

This invention relates to electrically heated combs, and one object of the invention is to provide a comb having simple, reliable and efficient means for heating the same.

Another object of the invention is to provide a comb having electrical heating means arranged in a chamber therein, said chamber being so constructed as to cause the heat to be efficiently transmitted to the teeth of the comb and to admit of ready access to the heatingmeans for the purpose of repairing or replacing the same when required,

A. further object of the invention is to provide an electrically heated comb having a toothed dressing surface and an ironing surface, whereby curly or kinky hair may be simultaneously dressed and straightened.

The invention consists of the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter fully described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of an electrical comb embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section thereof.

Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section.

In carrying my invention into practice, I provide a comb comprising a comb body 1 having at one end a handle 2. In practice, the comb body is made of metal or some other material capable of being heated, while the handle 2 may be made of the same material as the comb body or of a different material. Where the handle is made of the same material as the comb body, it may be provided with a non-conducting covering of suitable character, but if desired the handle itself may be made of non-conducting material.

The front longitudinal edge of the body 1 is provided with a longitudinal row of comb teeth 3, which may be of any suitable form and construction. These teeth 3 are designed to be heated to the proper temperature by electrical heating means arranged within the body. This electrical heating means may consist of a resistance coil 4, which may be of any suitable construction of a switch mechanism of ordinary construction whereby the current may be turned on' and off. The conductor 5 is adapted to be connected with and disconnected from a supply conductor 9 which may be connected in practice with any suitable source of current supply. Of course, it is to be understood that if desired an automatic cutoff may be employed to cut ofi. the flow of current when the comb is heated to a predetermined temperature, in order to prevent the possibility of the hair of the person being treated 'or of the hands of the operator being burned or otherwise injured.

The body 1 is of novel form, being substantially semi-elliptical in cross section, and therefore widest at its back and narrowest at its front, the teeth 3 extending from the narrowfront side portion 10, as shown. The front of the body 1, which is flat or planesurfaced, is open toadmit of the initial installation of the heating unit 1 and its subsequent inspection, repairs or replacement,

and the wall of the'bo'dy around this opening is rabbeted to receive a flat closure plate 11, detachably, secured in position by screws or other suitable fastenings 12. This closure plate 11 may be made of metal orother suitable conducting or non-conducting material. 1

The closure plate 11' is set at an angle to the vertical longitudinal axis of the comb, and the-lower portion of the rear wall 13 of the comb body is arranged at a' similar angle, while the back portion 14 of the comb body is extended on an arc of'comparatively wide radius, the portion 1a thereby forming a curved ironing surface, as hereinafter fully described. I

The comb embodying this invention is particularly designed and adapted for dressing and straightening curly or kinky hair, although'it may be employed for hair waving and other similar purposes. In treating curly or kinky hair for the purpose of straightening the same, it is the general custom to first wash the hair, then dry the same, then apply to the hair a dressing orthe heat from which acts upon the dressing to diffuse it uniformly throughout the hair and to then iron the hair whereby the hair is straightened or flattened out. Combs, and other tools for these purposes have heretofore been of crude construction, devoid of heating means and it has been necessary to heat them on a special stove or heater, making the operation slow, tedious, more or less laborious to the operator, and also more or less unsanitary, on account of the amount of cleaning to which the comb must be subjected.

In employing my improved comb, the comb, containing within it its own electrical heating unit, is heated to the proper degree and, after the hair has been initially washed, dressed and the dressing or pomade applied, the comb is employed to dress the hair and simultaneously iron it out to the desired straight or flattened condition. In using the comb-for this purpose the comb is drawn through the hair with the teeth 3 in advance, the action of the teeth bringing the hairs in proper position for treatment, and, as the comb is so drawn through the hair, it is. given 'a slight rocking motion to bring the surface 14 down into contact with the hairs through which the teeth are being passed, thus heating and ironing the same out to a reliable and efiicient degree. Hence it will; be understood that the operations of dressing the hair and ironing it out will be performed in a single operation, doing away with one or more of the additional operations commonly employed and at the same time obtaining a more reliable and efficient result. By the use of an electrically heated comb, the comb may be heated to any exact degree required in. a cleanly manner, thus doing away with the use of uncleanly auxiliary heaters, and enabling the operation of treating the hair to be performed in a more efficient and sanitary manner.

7 Having thus fully described my invention, I claim 1. A comb comprising a body substantially flat at one side and curved at its oppositeside, said sides converging toward the front of the body, the back of said body eX- tending on an arc of curvature continuous with the curved side of the body and forming therewith an ironing surface, and teeth projecting from the front of the body.

2. A comb comprising a body of substantially semi-elliptical form in cross-section, said body being substantially flat at one side and curved at its opposite side, said sides converging toward the front of the body, the back-of said body extending on an arc of curvature continuous with the curved side of the body and forming therewith an ironing surface, and teeth projecting from the front of the body.

3. A comb comprising a hollow body substantially flat and open at one side and curved at its opposite side, said sides converging toward the front of the body, the back of said body extending on an arc of curvature continuous with the curved side of the body and forming therewith an ironing surface, teeth projectingfrom the front of the body, electrical heating means within the hollow body, and a substantially fiat plate detachably secured to and closing the open side of the body. i

4;. A comb comprising a hollow body of substantially semi-elliptical form in crosssection, said body being substantially fiat and open at one side and curved at its opposite side, said sides converging toward the front of the body, the back of said body extending on an arc of curvature continuous with the curved side of the body and forming therewith an ironing surface, teeth projecting from the front of the body, electrical heating means within the hollow body, and a substantially flat plate detachably secured to and closing the open side of the body.

5. A comb body flat at one side and having its opposite side and back continuously curved between the rear portion of the flat side and front portion of said curved side, said sides converging toward the front f the body, and teeth projecting from the front of the body. 7

6. A comb body of substantially semielliptical form in cross-section, one side and the back of said body being curved and the other side of the body being substantially flat, said sides converging toward the front or the body, and substantially triangular teeth projecting from the front of the body, the side edges of which teeth intersect and lie substantially in the planes of said converging sides of the body.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

JAMES M. BROOKS. 

